Kensington residents welcoming to possible new political neighbor

If the outside chance that new White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel would consider a move to Kensington turns into something more, town residents seem more than willing to be a second Second City.

Staff of Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Dist. 8) said the congressman has suggested to Emanuel that Kensington would be a soft landing for the notoriously hard-edged Chicago politician and his family as he starts his new job.

Van Hollen got to know Emanuel through working with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, replacing him as committee chair in 2006. Doug Thornell, a Van Hollen spokesman, wrote in a statement that said the congressman "encourages anyone planning to move to the Washington, DC area to take a close look" at his district, but added that Emanuel had indeed been among them.

"Certainly, in his many conversations with Mr. Emanuel, who is a friend, he brought up the idea of the White House Chief of Staff and his family settling in Maryland's Eighth Congressional District. Congressman Van Hollen wants to be as helpful as possible to his former colleague and his family," Thornell wrote.

Emanuel's office did not return calls about whether such house hunting was likely or even possible, but media reports in the past have indicated reluctance from the fiery politician known as "Rahmbo" to disrupt his family with a move. Still, if he were to trade Chi-town for K-town, residents and local politicians seem more than accommodating.

"You can tell the new chief of staff that we have two houses for sale on Lawrence Avenue—that's my street—and I would be a great neighbor," said Del. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Dist. 18). "He could come and go early and late, I wouldn't complain."